Customs FOU Zone ‘B’ generates over N1.7bn in 2019

The Zone B of Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Kaduna, on Wednesday, said it had generated over N1.71 billion in 2019.

The figure almost doubled what it generated in 2018, which was N965.03 million.

The command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abubakar Usman, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, said 21,816 bags of rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N519.22 million were seized within the period.

He explained that the 2019 seizures were more than the 14,840 bags of rice valued at N213.69 million seized from smugglers in 2018.

According to him, 597 vehicles with DPV of N948 million were apprehended in 2019 as against 304 vehicles with DPV of N354.3 million seized the previous year.

Usman said 367 kegs of PMS were also seized and auctioned to the public in 2019 while 4,705 kg of smuggled vegetable oil valued at N88.92 million and 1,267 bags of sugar were also confiscated from smugglers.

Other items seized included 5,703 cartons of spaghetti and macaroni and 1,171 bales of secondhand clothing.

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He said 32 motorcycles used for smuggling were also seized within the period.

Usman reiterated the resolve of the command to adopt more strategies in 2020 to ensure the suppression of smuggling activities in the zone.

According to him, more stakeholders engagement and continuous sensitisation will be put in place to encourage compliance with government fiscal policies and discipline.

He said the Comptroller of the command, Mustafa Sarkin-Kebbi, had introduced a monthly award to officers and men who excelled in their assigned responsibilities.

Usman advised importers to always pay relevant duties to the government to avoid the seizure of their goods.

He said the FOU zone B had been designated as a duty collection centre in the zone for vehicles brought into the country without documents and urged such vehicle owners to take advantage of the opportunity to get valid documents for their vehicles. (NAN)